On September 6th, the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA) and the National Science Foundation (NSF) made the decision to temporarily vacate the Sunspot Solar Observatory at Sacramento Peak, New Mexico as a precautionary measure while addressing a security issue. The facility closed down in an orderly fashion and is now re-opening. The residents that vacated their homes will be returning to the site, and all employees will return to work this week.
AURA has been cooperating with an on-going law enforcement investigation of criminal activity that occurred at Sacramento Peak. During this time, we became concerned that a suspect in the investigation potentially posed a threat to the safety of local staff and residents. For this reason, AURA temporarily vacated the facility and ceased science activities at this location.
The decision to vacate was based on the logistical challenges associated with protecting personnel at such a remote location, and the need for expeditious response to the potential threat. AURA determined that moving the small number of on-site staff and residents off the mountain was the most prudent and effective action to ensure their safety.
http://www.aura-astronomy.org/news/news.asp?newsID=389
(Score: 2) by zocalo on Monday September 17 2018, @04:51PM (7 children)
I have no idea where that leaves the few that actually are on to something, but I suspect it involves those black helicopters that you occassionally see overhead...
UNIX? They're not even circumcised! Savages!
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday September 17 2018, @04:59PM (5 children)
Reminds me of GR and dark matter/energy.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday September 17 2018, @08:44PM (4 children)
Well, you clearly don't understand anything about GR if that's what you get out of it because that's one of the best-tested models of all time. When you're verifying predictions today that were made many decades ago because only now you have the precision to make the measurements, that's a pretty damn impressive theory.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday September 17 2018, @08:49PM (3 children)
Yep, the predictions are all perfect (if you allow for otherwise undetectable matter anywhere the predictions are wrong)... how can anyone say this seriously?
The fact is there is still zero evidence for dark matter besides GR making the wrong predictions. ZERO, and its not for lack of trying.
(Score: 1) by DECbot on Monday September 17 2018, @09:56PM (2 children)
You're correct. There is no such thing as dark matter. The actual solution is simple, Hawkins Radiation emits more mass than astrophysicist are ready to admit.
cats~$ sudo chown -R us /home/base
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday September 17 2018, @10:20PM (1 child)
I woudln't have the slightest clue about if your favorite explanation is correct. But, make a prediction about something and then we can see.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday September 18 2018, @07:02PM
nothing to see here, just your ol' interstellar squid feasting off some solar prominence-to-be before warping to better, less radioactive pastures. suns with orbiting planets having active neutron generation mechanisms don't make for tasty meals, it is understood ...
(Score: 2) by ikanreed on Monday September 17 2018, @05:07PM
Re black helicopters: I was gassing up by the airport this morning and saw an osprey take off(not VTOL, just off a runway).
Because I have a half-remembered news story that they're deathtraps and were discontinued, I'm going to conclude that it was a secret government organization intent on impairing my god-given right to order chicken sandwiches from sheetz for breakfast. They're no doubt now hovering out of sight watching me eat my lunch I brought from home.
(okay, maybe I just saw something strange and wanted to talk about it)